as you know, pope benedict has resigned. the question is: who is going to get the nod for the top job? joining me now chaplain of the colbert nation father jim martin. thank you so much for joining me. [cheers and applause] father jim, were you shocked this morning when you learned the pope would be resigning? >> i was. it's not unexpected because he talked about it sort of obliquely but i don't think anybody was expecting it. >> stephen: it's completely unexpected. i talk about running the new york city mamplet i'm never going to do it. no pope has resigned voluntarily since the pope in 1294. there's barely any trees on the planet who remember this. what happens now? there is no tradition for this. what happens? >> no there's not. there's a conclave, an election when the cardinals gather. >> stephen: there's still going to be a pope when they elect a new one. >> he's going to resign on february 28. there's no pope, a vacant seat and someone will take over in his place temporarily. >> stephen: who takes over? who is mini pop